Merging services

March 25, 2007

Shade Township supervisors have entered into a shared services agreement with the Conemaugh Township police department.

Shade Township would have had to hire more officers and purchase another vehicle to provide more police protection to residents. Now, without increasing costs, Conemaugh Township will provide additional police department, a canine unit, investigators and educational programs.

The Shade Municipal Building will become a zone headquarters for the officers on duty in the township.

This is the fifth municipality to enter into the shared services agreement. The police department now covers Conemaugh, Quemahoning and soon, Shade, townships and Benson and Stoystown boroughs.

This is a win for the residents. Small departments can no longer provide adequate protection for residents because they can't keep enough officers on staff. The costs, including administration, are also divided among a larger group of taxpayers, making for less of an impact on each municipalities residents.